DETROIT >> If you were waiting for news of sweeping changes to Jim Johnson’s delivery before the Tigers called him up ... well, you’ll be disappointed.

“It wasn’t just one thing over another. Pitching is such a timing and rhythm thing, I think it’s just getting that constant work, and just being able to get that little rhythm back,” said the 31-year-old Johnson, whose minor-league contract was purchased Sunday morning.

“I think I was able to get into a little bit of a rhythm, things I hadn’t been doing for the last couple of months. I was out, not doing much for a week-plus, kind of waiting to hear what was going to happen. Knock the rust off — it was almost like a mini-spring training condensed. It was good for me. I got what I needed out of it.”

The Tigers signed the former Orioles and Athletics closer to the minor-league deal after he’d been designated for assignment by the A’s last month. Detroit designated Kevin Whelan for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Johnson.

Advertisement

“Sometimes, just a change of scenery. His velocity was good the whole time,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “Even when he was in Oakland and scuffled, it was more about location, it wasn’t so much about his stuff. A lot of times a change of scenery helps.”

Johnson made four appearances at Triple-A Toledo, working with pitching coach Al Nipper and the Tigers’ minor league pitching coordinator, A.J. Sager.

“Each time out things got better and better. Pitches got sharper, location got better. ... And then just feeling good on top of it. Feeling good the next day,” Johnson said. “The last outing I threw down there felt very similar to how I threw the ball last year, the year before. The ball was coming out crisp.

“The first few outings there was a little rust, but each time out, things got better and better. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be to help the ballclub here.”

Where, though, is the question.

The Tigers are committed to Joe Nathan in the ninth inning, and Joba Chamberlain has locked down the eighth. Joakim Soria, when he returns to health, could pitch either.

That leaves earlier innings.

“There’s nothing etched in stone,” Ausmus said. “To start, I would say he’d probably be somewhere in the sixth, seventh inning, and we’ll see how it goes.”

Johnson doesn’t care, either.

“I’m here to help any way I can, and I’m excited for the opportunity,” he said.